Blessed are You, O Lord, who on this day, command the earth to bring forth the living creature after his kind; cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth, after their kind; that they might be serviceable to man for food, for clothing, and for help in his labors.
YOU made man after Your own likeness, and blessed him, and gave him dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls of the air, and over all the earth. In this wonderful and most noble operation I behold, and thankfully admire, Your consultation about it. The work of Your own hand in it, Your breathing of life into man whereby he became a living soul; the image of Your own divine mind impressed upon him; the government of creatures here below committed to him; the paradise prepared for him; the charge given to Your angels concerning him. The marvelous structure of mans body, the several functions of his heart, his reins, his eyes, his ears, his tongue, his hands, his feet, and indeed his every part; for in all he is fearfully and wonderfully made.

But still .more useful and more’ amazing are the superior faculties of his soul; life, sensation, reason, intellect, free will, memory, and conscience. How amply also have You made provision for the exercise of these noble faculties! By a revealed and written law; by the oracles of inspired prophets; by the melody of holy psalms; by the profitable instruction of wise proverbs and parables; by the examples and experience to be gathered from faithful histories; and by the typical worship of sacrifices, the shadows of greater and better things to come.

Blessed are You, O Lord, for that great and precious promise, which You, in the bowels of Your mercy, You graciously gave for the support of my fallen parents, That the seed of the woman should break the serpent’s head; and for the punctual accomplishment of that promise, which You, in the fullness of time, were pleased to make on this day.

Blessed be You, O Lord, my God, and my Savior, for the holy and bitter sufferings of this day! O grant, that what You were then content to endure for me and all men, and for my salvation, may be effectual, for the saving of my soul in particular.

Book: Christian’s Daily Companion
SELECTED FROM THE PRAYERS OF BISHOPS WILSON AND ANDREWS TO WHICH IS ADDED A COMPILATION FROM PALMER’S AND COTTERILL’S FORMULARIES.
PUBLISHED BY ELIJAH WEEMS, FOR GABRIEL NOURSE
Edited by: Karrol Sneed 2014